Car-brake



P. R. FREY;

GAR BRAKE.

(No Model.)

No; 277,476. Patented May 15,1883.

N. PETERS. PhntaLiYhcgmphnr, Walbflngion, I16.

NITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

PHILIP R. FREY, OF l/VESTERN UNION, WISCONSIN.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,476, dated May 15,1883.

Application filed October 25, 18552. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, PHILIP R. Fear, of

\Vestern Union, Racine county, in the State of \Visconsin, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements relating to the Construction ofOar-Brakes, of which the followingis a specification.

I introduce an elastic action between the brake-shoe and the brake-beam,while supporting the shoe stiffly against the movement induced by thefriction of the wheel in either direction. The extent of the elasticmotion may be slight, but it is important that it be sufficient to killthe vibrations induced by the frictional action of the surface of thewheel. My spring or springs as introduced also aid to maintain a greateruniformity of force, holding the shoe upon the wheel under the varyingconditions which obtain in practice.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification, and is avertical section through the brake block and the adjacent parts,including the spring.

Referring to the drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon, Ais a portion of the wheel.

B is the brake-shoe.

B and B are knees or brackets firml y bolted on the rear face of thebrake-shoe at a proper distance apart.

0 is the brake-beam.

D is a spring composed of several plates of steel or hard iron, whichare formed with corrugations and applied together, the corruga tions ineach extending transversely to those of the adjacent plates on eachside. The corrugations need not be deep. I esteem this form of springpeculiarly well adapted to my special purpose, as a large area isavailable and only a small amount of elastic action required. I willdesignate the whole set of plates as a single spring.

' -E represents one of the bolts which hold the parts together and allowthe yielding of the spring D.

The mechanism for applying and letting 0% the brake may be of anyordinary or suitable description. (Notrepresented) The brakein allconditions is worked in the ordinary manner.- I propose in someinstances to protect thejoint around the edge of the spring D againstthe entrance of water and dust. Then the brake is out of use the springexerts its ordinary tension against the bolts E, and the brake is in allpractical respects in its usual position. When the beam (J is forciblyoperated toward the wheel it transmits the pressure through the springI) to the shoe B and induces friction on the wheel. The motion of thewheel in one direction or the other tends to move the shoe up or down.This is resisted by the knee B or B according to the direction in whichthe car is moving. the knees B B resting against the top or bottom ofthe beam (3, allow the small amount of motion which is due to the actionof my spring. Instead of transmitting to the brake-sh0e the forcereceived from the beam in the same rigid manner in which the beamreceives it, the interposition of the spring D makes the pressure of theshoe against the wheel uniform under all conditions ot'irregularity ofthe Wheel. Irregularity in the periphery of the wheel due to defectiveworkmanship,wear, or other cause, is accommodated bythe yielding ofthespring 1). Any harshness, suddenness, or irregularity in the forcetransmitted from the beam is softened by the same spring.

Modifications may be lnade in the proportions. The thickness of thespring may be varied within wide limits. I esteem it important that ithave alarge area. The corrugated plates possess advantages in thissituation which are peculiar to themselves. They furnish astiff spring,which will retain its elasticity. They are adapted to lie snugly betweenthe parts B B and are held securely in place by the bolt E without otherfastening. Instead of making the knees B B in separate castings boltedon as shown, I can make them in a single casting extending along therear of the shoe B or I can form them as offsets in the wood or othermaterial of the shoe B. It

is only important that they have a broad bearin g and are adapted toresist the vertical movement of the shoe and allow its horizontalmovement induced by the elasticity of the spring It has been beforeproposed to mount an iron 'shoe between the brake-beam and the wheel,

The plane faces of with a spring interposed, the shoe being attached tothe brake-beam by webs or hooked projections at the top and bottom. Suchinvolves a necessity for a casting on the brakebeam corresponding toeach shoe, which my invention completely avoids. My bolt E, extendingthrough the brakebeam, the spring, and the shoe, allows sufficient playfor the spring, and confines the whole together without necessity forother fastening.

I claim as my invention- 1. The shoe B, of wood, the knees B B of metal,and spring D, beam (1, and confiningbolt E, combined and arrangedforjoint operation as herein specified.

2. In a car brake, the combination of the interposed spring D, composedofa series of corrugated metal plates laid one upon another,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Western Union, this17th day of October, 1882, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIP R. FREY.

Witnesses:

W. H. BONES, JOHN J. DONAHUE.

